Foot pedal switch

ABSTRACT

A foot pedal switch that can independently turn three switches on or off and can independently vary the settings of three potentiometers. As such, the foot pedal switch is readily applicable to the adjustment of a musical instrument amplifier, with the switches and potentiometers activating modular effect circuits. Each switch and potentiometer can be controlled with a foot pedal independently of the other switches and potentiometers.

United States Patent [191 Bartel FOOT PEDAL SWITCH [75] Inventor: Roger P. Bartel, North Tonawanda,

[73] Assignee: Raymond Lee Organization, New

York, NY. a part interest 22 Filed: Aug. 15, 1973 [21 Appl. No.: 388,606

[52] US. Cl 200/865, 74/478, 200/153 C, 338/153 [51] Int. Cl. H01h 13/16 [58] Field of Search ZOO/86.5, 153 C, 6 A, 4 R; 338/153; 74/478 [56] References Cited 7 v UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,460,494 1/1949 Elsenberg et al. 338/153 1 Sept. 3, 1974 2,982,831 5/1961 Hacker et al. ZOO/86.5 2,986,953 6/1961 Armond et a1 338/153 Primary ExaminerDavid Smith, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Howard l. Podell 5 7] ABSTRACT A foot pedal switch that can independently turn three switches on or off and can independently vary the settings of three potentiometers. As such, the foot pedal switch is readily applicable to the adjustment of a musical instrument amplifier, with the switches and potentiometers activating modular effect circuits. Each switch and potentiometer can be controlled with a foot pedal independently of the other switches and potentiometers.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEB 3i? FOOT PEDAL SWITCH SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a foot pedal switch which can be used to turn each of three switches on or off and can also be used to vary any of three potentiometers.

The advantage of this invention is that a musician playing an electronically amplified musical instrument, such as an electric guitar, can turn two circuits leading to the amplifier on or off and can vary the resistance of three circuits leading to the amplifier, all with the movement of one of the musicians feet.

A further advantage of this invention is that the resistance of any of the three resistance controllable circuits can be varied completely independently of all other controls. Circuits may be opened or closed independently of each other and independently of two of the three potentiometers which control the resistance value of three individual circuits.

The invention comprises a foot pedal which activates two switches and one potentiometer when the pedal pivots such that the foot pedal s angle to the horizontal varies, said pedal activating two other potentiometers when said pedal is moved in the horizontal plane. Both switches and two of the potentiometers are attached to a metal plate which is placed vertically beneath the pedal, and the third potentiometer is attached to a metal base which is placed vertically beneath both the foot pedal and the metal plate. A third switch is independently controlled by linear movement of the pedal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the triple action switch foot pedal;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the triple action switch foot pedal; and

FIG. 3 is a back view of the triple action switch foot pedal showing the pivot assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a metal foot pedal which is pivotably connected to a metal plate 12 pivotably connected to a metal base member 14. With the metal base member set on a horizontal surface, the foot pedal 10 pivots in the vertical plane about a steel rod 16 rotatably fitted through side brackets 61 of the metal plate 12, so that the pedal 10 rotates in the vertical plane with respect. to both the plate 12 and the base member 14. Pedal 10 and plate 12 are'mounted to base member 14 by a vertical'pivot pin-46 so that pedal 10 and plate 12 rotate together in the horizontal plane with respect to base member 14. Pin 46 is fitted through a hole in plate 12 and an axial groove 53 in base member 14 so that the pedal 10 and plate 12 may slide axially together with respect to base member 14. Two electric switches 18 and 20 are mounted to the plate 12 adjacent to the toe and 10F of pedal 10. The button 24 which operates switch 24 protrudes above the top surface of the plate 12, and under foot pedal 10. Thus, when the toe end IOF of food pedal 10 is fully depressed, the switch button 24 is also depressed, activating the switch 18. The button 26 which operates switch 20 faces the bottom of the rectangular cavity of the metal plate 12 and hence the button 26 faces away from the foot pedal. This button 26 activates the switch 20 when an L-shaped bracket 28 pushes against the button 26 of, switch 20. The L- shaped bracket 28 is attached to the underside of the foot pedal 10, so that when the toe section 10F of the foot pedal 10 is pushed upwards, the L bracket 28 also rises and thus pushes the button 26 against the switch 20. The assembly of buttons 24 and 26 and switches 18 and 20 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Neither switch button 24 or 26 is activated when the foot pedal 10 is vertically rotated into a neutral position between full up stroke and full down stroke.

Rubber pads 30 are attached at each end of the foot pedal 10 so that pressure must be exerted by the foot of the operator on pedal 10 to move it in either direction, and to activate either switch 18 or switch 20. Since pivot rod 16 is mounted to the foot pedal 10 at a point between the toe end 10F and the heel end 10H of the pedal 10, pressure of a foot of the user on either the toe end 10F or the heel end 10H will cause the toe end 10F to either depress or rise respectively.

When the pedal 10 is pivoted in the vertical plane about pin 16, a rack 32 with teeth attached to the underside of pedal 10 moves perpendicularly to the plane of the pedal 10. The teeth of the rack 32 mesh with the teeth of gear 34 which is mounted to the shafe of potentiometer 22, and the resistance setting of the potentiometer 22 is varied when the gear 34 is rotated.

A second potentiometer 36 is attached to the metal plate 22, and a third potentiometer 38 is attached to a bracket attached to the metal base 14 adjacent to the plate 12. Settings of both potentiometers 36 and 38 are varied by linear movement of buttons 42 and 40 respectively. The button 40 of potentiomaeter 38 protrudes through an axial shaped groove 51 in the extended surface of the plate 12. The groove 51 through which button 40 protrudes extends along part of the length of the plate 12. Thus, when the pedal 10 and plate 12 are both axially moved together with respect to base member 14 in a direction parallel to the length of the pedal 10, the button 40 does not move. However, when the pedal 10 pivots'in the horizontal plane about pivot assembly 44 with respect to plate 12 the button 40 of potentiometer 38 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the length of the pedal 10, thus varying the resistance setting of the potentiometer 38.

The button 42 of potentiometer 36 protrudes through a transverse circular shaped groove 52 in the plate 12 and into a hole in base 14 which snugly surrounds the button 42. The groove 52 through which.

button 42 protrudes is shaped so that when the pedal 10 and plate 12 pivot together in the horizontal plane about pivot assembly 44, the button 42 does not move in relation to potentiometer 36. However, when the pedal 10 and plate 12 move together in a direction parallel to the length of the pedal 10 with respect to the base 14, the button 42 is moved and varies the setting of potentiometer 36.

As shown in FIG. 3, included in the pivot assembly 44 comprises a hollow metal tube 46 which runs through a hole in plate 12, and through a slot 53 in the upper wall 14W of the base member 14. A compression spring 48 mounted about tube 46 assures that the plate 12 and base member 46 will not separate. The tube 46 goes through a groove in base 12, the groove 53 allowing the tube 46 and plate 12 to which the tube 46 is connected, to move in a direction parallel to the length of the pedal while the base 14 remains stationary.

The pivot assembly 44 allows the pedal 10 to pivot vertically about pin 16 in relation to the horizontal, and allows the pedal 10 and the plate 12 to pivot in the horizontal plane together about tube 46, and allows the pedal 10 and plate 12 to move together axially in a direction parallel to the length of the pedal 10 in the horizontal plane with respect to base 14.

Axial linear motion of pedal 10 serves to actuate a snap action switch 72 which is mounted to a tab 73 of the main plate 20, with the switch arm 74 contacted by a tab 75 on the end of sliding plate 71. Plate 71 is mounted adjacent main plate 20 and is maintained in an axial orientation, independent of pedal 10 rotation, since sliding plate 71 rests between and against pivot support members61. Sliding plate 71 does move in the axial direction in response to axial movement of pedal 10 to actuate switch. 72 at either extreme limit of its stroke. A potentiometer 80 is located so that potentiometer knob 81 may be manually adjusted and potentiometer 80 is electrically connected to the circuit controlled by switch 20.

Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, such modifications being within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting in scope.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A pedal operated switch assembly unit which controls independently three switches and three variable potentiometers adaptable for controlling separate cir-- cuits of an electrified musical instrument comprising a base member, a pedal member, and a plate member joined together so that with the base member resting on a horizontal surface the pedal member is rotatably joined to the plate by means of a pin lying in the horizontal plane, said plane permitting the pedal member to rotate in the vertical plane with respect to the plate member with said plate member joined to the base member by a pin oriented in the vertical plane permitting the pedal member and plate member to rotate together in the horizontal plane with respect to the base member, said vertical pin joining the base member and the plate member being fitted in an axial shaped slot in the base member permitting the foot pedal and plate member to slide together in an axial direction with respect to the base member, the complete assembly permitting the pedal to rotate in the vertical plane with respect to both plate member and base member, and permitting the pedal and plate together to rotate in the horizontal plane with respect to the base member and to slide in the axial direction together with respect to the base member.

2. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which switches are attached to the assembly so that relative movement of the pedal with respect to the plate member causes individual actuation of said switches, in relation to the direction of the pedal movement.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2 in which one switch is attached to the assembly so that it is actuated when the toe section of the pedal assembly comes into proximity with the plate member and with a second switch mounted to the assembly so that the second switch is actuated when the toe section of the pedal member is rotated to a position away from the plate member.

4. The combination as recited in claim 3 in which-a third switch is mounted to the assembly so that the third switch is actuated by axial movement of the foot pedal, but is not changed in its operation by rotational movement of the foot pedal. 

1. A pedal operated switch assembly unit which controls independently three switches and three variable potentiometers adaptable for controlling separate circuits of an electrified musical instrument comprising a base member, a pedal member, and a plate member joined together so that with the base member resting on a horizontal surface the pedal member is rotatably joined to the plate by means of a pin lying in the horizontal plane, said plane permitting the pedal member to rotate in the vertical plane with respect to the plate member with said plate member joined to the base member by a pin oriented in the vertical plane permitting the pedal member and plate member to rotate together in the horizontal plane with respect to the base member, said vertical pin joining the base member and the plate member being fitted in an axial shaped slot in the base member permitting the foot pedal and plate member to slide together in an axial direction with respect to the base member, the complete assembly permitting the pedal to rotate in the vertical plane with respect to both plate member and base member, and permitting the pedal and plate together to rotate in the horizontal plane with respect to the base member and to slide in the axial direction together with respect to the base member.
 2. The combination as recited in claim 1 in which switches are attached to the assembly so that relative movement of the pedal with respect to the plate member causes individual actuation of said switches, in relation to the direction of the pedal movement.
 3. The combination as recited in claim 2 in which one switch is attached to the assembly so that it is actuated when the toe section of the pedal assembly comes into proximity with the plate member and with a second switch mounted to the assembly so that the second switch is actuated when the toe section of the pedal member is rotated to a position away from the plate member.
 4. The combination as recited in claim 3 in which a third switch is mounted to the assembly so that the third switch is actuated by axial movement of the foot pedal, but is not changed in its operation by rotational movement of the foot pedal. 